Despite being linked to clubs outside France, Briand decided to stay with Rennes for the 2008–09 season, during which he scored a club-high eight Ligue 1 goals.

On 26 March 2009, Briand ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, while training with the France national team.

[citation needed] On 14 June 2010, Lyon president and chairman Jean-Michel Aulas announced that the club had signed Briand to a four-year contract effective on 1 July.

Briand had secured a tentative deal to join Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact, but it fell through on 26 July 2018.

He was a member of the French squad that participated in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship helping France reach the semi-finals before losing to the Netherlands.

[citation needed] Briand received his first call-up to the senior side in May 2007 for France's Euro 2008 qualification matches against Ukraine and Georgia.

On 11 October 2008, Briand made his international debut, coming on as a substitute for Franck Ribéry in the 90th minute, against Romania, in a 2010 World Cup away qualifying match that ended in a 2–2 draw.